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Golden Compas aurhor Phillip Pullman admits to anti-religious bias
12/01/07
Nicole Kidman in The Golden Compass
"I've been surprised by how little criticism I've got. Harry Potter's been taking all the flak. I'm a great fan of J.K. Rowling, but the people - mainly from America's Bible Belt - who complain that Harry Potter promotes Satanism or witchcraft obviously haven't got enough in their lives. Meanwhile, I've been flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God."
Follow up:
Essentially, the trilogy is about the transition of innocence to experience, the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. When we're introduced to Lyra, we're told the inflexible church authorities in her world are anxious to stem the spread of "Dust". Only later do we find that Dust is good - "the totality of human wisdom and experience" is Pullman's description. It's the religious zealots trying to prevent the spread of wisdom who are the bad guys, even if they wear clerics' robes.
Pullman has no qualms with critics who label his books sacrilegious, so how does he describe himself? "If we're talking on the scale of human life and the things we see around us, I'm an atheist. There's no God here. There never was. But if you go out into the vastness of space, well, I'm not so sure. On that level, I'm an agnostic.
"That's not to say I disparage the religious impulse. I think the impulse is a critical part of the wonder and awe that human beings feel. What I am against is organised religion of the sort which persecutes people who don't believe. I'm against religious intolerance."
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16 comments, 1 trackback
Comment from: Jadeland17 [Visitor] 
Does Phillip Pullman know what Atheism is...wh would you kill Someone that you don't even believe in?? I am a teacher and I have told all of my students parents NOT to allow them to see this movie. I will not see it or allow my two children to see it! I will also do everything in my power to influence as many people as possible not to see it either. If Pullman is not ashamed of what he is doing, why is he trying to disguise it??
12/07/07 @ 16:46
The movie is very bad anyways as my review will detail in a couple of hours.
12/07/07 @ 20:31
Comment from: Jennifer [Visitor]
"It's the religious zealots trying to prevent the spread of wisdom who are the bad guys" -Pullman
What an interesting statement. Perhaps it is him trying to prevent the spread of wisdom by degrading religion. What is the definition of true wisdom? Where does wisdom come from? Pullman? My bet is on God.
Also, he complains about the power of organized religions. He has a 160 million dollar movie to spread his beliefs. The media & film industry have incredible power over the mass population - just as he believes religion does. He is a hypocrite. I will not go to a movie who's maker doesn't acknowledge my maker & who tries to brainwash my chidrens minds -just as he accuses the church of doing.
"If any of you lacks wisdom ,he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe & not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown & tossed by the wind. He is a double minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:5-8
What an interesting statement. Perhaps it is him trying to prevent the spread of wisdom by degrading religion. What is the definition of true wisdom? Where does wisdom come from? Pullman? My bet is on God.
Also, he complains about the power of organized religions. He has a 160 million dollar movie to spread his beliefs. The media & film industry have incredible power over the mass population - just as he believes religion does. He is a hypocrite. I will not go to a movie who's maker doesn't acknowledge my maker & who tries to brainwash my chidrens minds -just as he accuses the church of doing.
"If any of you lacks wisdom ,he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe & not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown & tossed by the wind. He is a double minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:5-8
12/10/07 @ 05:37
Comment from: Casey [Visitor]
Wisdom, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is defined as the 1: Accumulated philosophic or scientific learning-knowledge; 2: Ability to discern inner qualities and relationships-insight; 3: Good sense-judgment 4: Generally accepted belief (challenges what has become accepted wisdom among many historians — Robert Darnton). 5: A wise attitude, belief, or course of action. 6: The teachings of the ancient wise men"
I don't see the word god in there anywhere :)
I don't see the word god in there anywhere :)
12/11/07 @ 10:42
Comment from: I am a christian [Visitor]
Jesus dies for you so why won't you live for him?
12/16/07 @ 12:53
Comment from: monika SVK [Visitor]
....it is really rather an overeacted deal. I do understand you on the side against the director.I am christian and I have seen the movie. My belief did not suffer at all. Children`s mind is fantastic an I love it. The movie is not worth to purchase it and be kept in library. Rich on the visual effects poor on the idea either sharply offending religion or expressing own author`s thoughts. FOr me i is the same ridiculous and worthless pointing on this as it has been on the Dan Brown`s Chifre...
12/16/07 @ 13:35
You're right. It was about as bad as that.
12/16/07 @ 13:43
Comment from: Delisa Moore [Visitor]
Tolerance and open minded consideration would serve most of us better than negative attitudes and the refusal to see that there may be more than one truth.
01/01/08 @ 05:08
There can't be more than one truth by definition, but we should respect different opinions.
01/01/08 @ 10:56
There can't be more than one truth by definition, but we should respect different opinions.
01/01/08 @ 11:06
Comment from: AlexB [Visitor]
You have chosen to believe there is a god, I have chosen to believe there is none, why are people like me persecuted? Is not that we are killing "god", is the thought of there being one what we fight. If you disagree... don't watch the movie. Are you afraid that people will open their eyes and realize the truth? Let your god save them, let their FREE WILL be of use, quit being the ministerium and forcing unto others what you consider to be correct.
01/13/08 @ 22:34
Comment from: Pinoyme70 [Visitor]
AlexB, although I understand your concern, I don't agree with you. First of all, if you've read the stories of Christian missionaries being tortured and killed because of their faith, you'll know what persecution means. I don't think you've experienced that. Secondly, what is truth to you? Not even the greatest mathematicians nor scientists can say that their conclusions are infallible. Thirdly, it is our own FREE WILL that we chose to have a "common belief" as the magisterium to a point that we are willing to die for that belief. If you truly believe there is no God then you probably don't believe that the end of your life means the end of your existence. How sad it is to think that no matter what you do in this lifetime will not matter as it will just end in the blink of an eye.
02/03/08 @ 16:57
Comment from: Dabroken1 [Visitor]
have you ever heard of the inquisition? then you might know what percicution is. Crusade's? look at 90% of the most violent wars in history. They come from religion. look at the middle east now..... religous intolorance will get you no where except into a pit of your own hatered. enjoy your beliefes but dont push them on others. I watched the movie before hearing any of this and i didnt notice any Anti religous ideal's. Its a story with a message. the message you take is a reflection of your self.
03/09/08 @ 22:47
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04/01/08 @ 08:12
Comment from: cassidy [Visitor] · http://www.nelsonguirado.com/index.php/religion/2007/12/01/golden_compas_aurhor_phillip_pullman_adm#
look u make no since for one killing god is horrible and if u dont believe in him then theres no reason to kill him in ur movie anyway and for ur info god made everything on this earth and if it werent 4 him u wuldnt even b here! your wrong to write things like this and the only real reason you made a video about killing god is because you wanna be better than harry potter and 2 tell u the truth you never will b
05/05/08 @ 15:15
Comment from: k fix [Visitor]
Stop the intolerance. I am a follower of Jesus and I believe him to be the son of God....however....organized religion under any name, including the Church is nothing but a breeding ground for evil. I do not support it at all. All organized religion does is cause pain and war and it exists only for one reason - Control.
There is a good message in this storyline written by Philip Pullman. It is a fantasy yet it encourages one to think for him or herself. That is of utmost importance. Stop this insanity. God looks at the heart. Jesus asked us to follow the Golden Rule. What humanity has done with organized religion is an abomination. Stop fearing and start doing what Jesus asked you to do!
05/20/08 @ 20:43
Comment from: CHARLES SANFORD [Visitor]
It's interesting that Phillip says that on earth there is no GOD, AND NEVER HAS BEEN, then says about God in space, he's an agnostic. Wonder where the 'wisdom and knowledge' is in that statement? In the New Testament, there is no Church 'organization' past deacons and elders appointed in each local Church. There is no Pope, Arch Bishop, Cardinal, etc. and no Headquarters on earth. The head of the Church is Christ and He said he was the way,truth and life and no man comes to the Father, except through Christ. All people have the freedom to choose to believe and obey or not. The Christianity of the New Testament was persecuted but did not return evil for evil. Many 'man organized' religions do exactly the opposite!
07/07/08 @ 17:49
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